We are delighted to welcome Alison Brumwell to the blog in the first of a series of short interviews about this year’s conference, Representations of Place, to talk with us about her experiences of conference and to give some insights into this year’s exciting programme!  Alison has Chaired the Youth Libraries Group through two of the most challenging years in recent history, she is also conference secretary, a role that she has brought great energy and imagination to!  Welcome Alison…

Can you tell us a little about your role with the conference team?

My specific role within the conference team is as Conference Secretary, which is largely an administrative function. This involves, among other things, sending out author agreements and invoices and ensuring accommodation/dietary requirements are adequately noted. I’ve also been involved in organising Chairs and hosts for the programme sessions.

The Theme this year is around place, can you tell us a little about what delegates can expect?

The representations of place theme is broad in scope, so delegates can expect a wide-range of panel discussions, plenaries and breakout sessions which encourage them to explore “new lands and new ways of looking”. It’s also an opportunity to reflect upon the challenges which our profession faces: not just the physical spaces we work in, but how we can support children and young people as they navigate through school and life in general. Underpinning all this is reinvigorating delegates so they can share the value of reading and books, which is at the heart of what we do (regardless of our settings).

Are there any sessions you feel particularly excited by personally?

I am personally excited by the panel discussions which tackle two timely issues: masculinity and body image. The authors involved are known for challenging preconceptions and commonly-held assumptions about behaviour and identity, so I expect some thought-provoking discussion about this and how these feature in their own writing. After a virtual YLG conference in 2020 due to the pandemic, I think the Gala Dinner and CKG Medals presentations will be even more celebratory.

Do you remember your first YLG conference?

The first YLG conference I attended was shortly after I became a CILIP member, at the University of Warwick. It wasn’t as overwhelming as my first London Book Fair, but I was amazed to see so many publishers, authors and illustrators together in one venue. I knew nobody, other than Jane Mellers (then a Development Librarian with Kirklees Libraries), so I stuck to her like glue and she kindly introduced me to a few people. What I remember most is that there was an unfortunate cancellation in the programme on the Saturday evening. The Alzheimer’s Society was also holding its conference at the university that weekend and Sir Terry Pratchett kindly agreed to substitute last minute. He spoke very eloquently to YLG delegates about the adjustments he had to make to the writing process as a result of his illness, and about his career in general.

The YLG conferences I’ve attended (six in total) have provided the best CPD of my career. They are invaluable in terms of networking opportunities and sharing good practice with colleagues. For school librarians, who are often lone working on a daily basis, conference is an antidote to feeling professionally isolated. There’s no other conference or event I can think of which offers high calibre training, updates on current research, a well-organised publishers’ exhibition, bookselling and the chance to annually celebrate authors and illustrators who have won the prestigious CILIP Carnegie and Kate Greenaway Medals.

Do you have any tips for people wanting to make a funding case to their employers wanting to attend?

I’d recommend that anyone interested in attending YLG conference make a clear business case beforehand, rather than automatically assuming it’s a waste of time. Most delegates cannot afford to self-fund (and shouldn’t have to), so operate on the principle that if you don’t ask you won’t get. Evaluate the programme and outline clearly why a conference place will also benefit your library setting and wider organisation. If you’re a school librarian, it may be that there is a particular speaker or session which ties directly into your school development plan; other ideas are to offer to share your conference experience by writing a blog for the school website, delivering a twilight session for staff or a presentation to Governors. Demonstrating the wider benefits may prove convincing, as could a personal conversation with your school’s Bursar/Business Manager. If you can, break down the cost so that your organisation can see YLG offers value for money. If securing a paid full delegate place isn’t possible, ask about day delegate funding and remember that any library worker is eligible to apply for the annual Klaus Flugge Bursary. This is endowed by Andersen Press and provides a fully-funded delegate place to the successful applicant.

Conference wasn’t able to take place physically last year, what steps will be taken to keep delegates safe?

The YLG conference team is working closely with the Imperial Hotel in Torquay to ensure that the 2021 live conference is a safe one for delegates and in compliance with government COVID health and safety guidelines. Social distancing measures will be in place in the exhibition place, bookshop and conference rooms, if needed after the government’s next review on relaxing restrictions. Up-to-date information is available on the hotel’s website.

The Imperial Hotel is a short drive from Greenway, Agatha Christie’s holiday home. It was also the setting for her novel Peril at End House the National Trust is offering an optional guided tour of Greenway for conference delegates on Friday 17 September prior to registration. I am sure that delegates will appreciate this opportunity.

Thank you to Alison for the interview!